Charity Spotlight: Community Connect
Who We Are?
Community Connect is a registered charity in the Republic of Ireland, which supports pregnant women and new parents in a practical and tangible way.
Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, yet it can also be accompanied by challenges, particularly for mothers who lack access to essential baby supplies and resources. Imagine the stress and worry of expecting a child without the means to provide necessities such as nappies, clothing, a cot, and other essentials. Sadly, this is a reality that many pregnant mothers in Ireland face every day.
We in Community Connect help to alleviate the burden on these expecting mothers and new parents, by providing them with the baby equipment, clothing and essential baby supplies they need to welcome their little ones into the world with love and dignity.
We are pioneering a national ‘Baby Bank’ in Ireland, while providing Irish parents with a sustainable and trustworthy way to donate their pre-loved baby items to a family who will really benefit. We have many wonderful, dedicated volunteers around the country who work tirelessly with us!
Why We Started?
Community Connect started its life in 2019 when we saw a real need for practical support for pregnant mothers in Ireland, and set about collecting donations of nappies, hygiene essentials and used baby clothing and blankets in good condition to donate to charities who could use them. There was a huge outpouring of generosity from people in donating these items, but there was no organisation in Ireland which had the infrastructure or mission to focus specifically on baby items and distribute them to families in most need. As parents ourselves, many of us also had bags of baby clothing, buggies and cots in perfect condition, gathering dust in our attics. We felt that there must be a better way than just sending these to landfill, especially in the current era of the circular economy and sustainability. So, the idea for Community Connect was born!
What We Do?
Community Connect currently has five ‘hubs’ across the country, where people can donate baby items and parents in need can access them. These hubs are located in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny & Athlone. We also have volunteers in many other parts of the country, who can access items from our hubs and assist families in need in those locations. Week in, week out, our volunteers around the country are working to prepare bundles of clothing, equipment and essential items and deliver these to families who need our support.
Our Plans for the VHI Women's Mini-Marathon
We have great plans to bring a huge team of volunteers and supporters with us to the mini marathon this year! As a new charity, we want to join in with all the big names that everyone knows, and be counted among the charities of Ireland. And of course, we are looking forward to raising lots of money and having great fun in the process!
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